He wouldn’t let these things happen to me.Surelyhe wouldn’t let it happen.
Right?
“They’re fighting over you, sweetheart,” Lucas murmured, egging them on. “Damaged as you are. Don’t you feel special?”
My teeth chattered. Why would he encourage it?
Behind him, Miller’s grotesque smile widened. “Popular little thing, isn’t she? I have an idea. What say we play for her, Scott? Like we used to?”
The corner of Lucas’s mouth turned up in the barest smile.
Was this what he wanted?
“Yeah. Let us play for her!” a soldier said.
“I’ll join,” said another.
Lucas touched the thin strap of the slip, trailing down my chest in an uncharacteristic show of desire. “We playing at the Hangman?” he asked.
Cheers and catcalls poured from the men in the room.
He wanted them to want me. Why did he want them to want me?
A small sob escaped my throat.
What are you doing?
“Yeah,” Miller said. “The Hangman. Tonight.”
Lucas’s finger reached the crook of the V in my dress. His finger moved in a tiny, familiar pattern over my heart. A spark of hope lit in my chest.
“Private game,” Lucas said. “Colonels only.”
Several officers of lower rank booed and grumbled.
“Interesting,” Miller singsonged. “Finally want some new pussy, Scott? Anna will be so disappointed.”
Lucas didn’t bother to look at him. “She’ll live.” A beat passed before he added, “Or she won’t.”
Miller laughed like they were old friends. “Alright, alright. Tonight, colonels only. If her judgment is settled, I’ll escort her to her life sentence.”
He strolled forward, and panic shot through me like electricity. I stumbled backward, and Lucas did nothing to keep Jack Miller from grasping my elbow. I struggled, but he gripped my arms in a vise.
“No!” I wrenched away, turning to one of the other women. “Help me! Please!”
None of them looked at me.
Miller took hold of my bound wrists and forced us toward the door.
“Please!” I seized Miller’s shirt. “Just kill me! Please!”
My legs gave out, but Miller took my weight easily, laughing in my face. “You don’t need to die. You just need a little correction.”
Dizzy, my head fell. “Please. Please don’t do this.”
He laughed harder, holding my arms to keep me upright. “Look at you. Just a few days and your manners are already improving.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “But I’m glad I had you when you still had some fight in you.”
“Please.”
